James Donio

Music Business Association President

James Donio is the President of the Music Business Association (Music Biz). Since taking the top role in 2004, Donio has evolved the organization from one primarily focused on physical product retailers to a more inclusive trade association that represents the full breadth of the current music business, including digital distribution, mobile, games, video, applications, and other entities that monetize music. This expanding membership vision includes not only Board-level representation from companies such as iTunes, Microsoft, Spotify, and Google/YouTube but also the introduction of membership levels for individuals and students, not just corporations. Donio has also revitalized Music Biz’s annual convention, making it the definitive gathering for about 1,000 executives engaged in the business of music in the United States. Donio has also worked to expand Music Biz’s event offerings beyond the convention, introducing the Entertainment & Technology Law Conference Series in 2010 and a regular schedule of webinars on a diverse variety of topics of interest in the industry. Donio worked his way up through Music Biz since joining the organization 26 years ago as Director of Creative Services. In 1991, he added PR and marketing functions to his Music Biz resume and was promoted to the position of Communications Director. In 1995, he took on oversight of Music Biz’s conventions and conferences as VP of Communications & Events. In 2000, he was elevated to Exec. VP, adding most of the organization’s day-to-day administrative and operational responsibilities to his job description.